Man barred from every pub in Reading

Marcus Foster is now banned from drinking alcohol in any public place in the town for two years

This is the first man in Reading to be barred from every pub and club in the town after assaulting a barman.

Marcus Foster, of Hatford Road in Southcote, is now banned from drinking alcohol in any public place in the town for two years.

He was subjected to the first drink banning order (DBO) in Reading after he admitted throwing a half-full beer glass into the face of O’Neill’s barman Robert Lockward.

The incident at the Friar Street pub took place on Wednesday, June 23, during the England v Slovenia World Cup match.

The 42-year-old was sentenced for two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Alan Edge, prosecuting, said Mr Lockward spotted Foster slumped at the bar at around 8.05pm and asked if he was OK. Foster replied: “Don’t make me look like a ****.”

The court heard he then picked up the glass and threw it at Mr Lockward’s face, shattering his glasses.

John Dexter, defending, said: “He could vaguely remember going in there and that he had a lot to drink, but he had no recollection of the incident itself.

“He was very shocked when he heard about it and was incredibly relieved when he was shown pictures of the aggrieved as it indicated there had been little force in throwing the glass, otherwise the injuries would have been quite horrendous.

“The action on my client’s part wasn’t forceful. It’s still a very unpleasant thing to have happened and shouldn’t have happened.

“This is the first incident of this type for this gentleman for some time. He has a history of drink related offending.

“Over the last few years he has been very careful not to drink in the way he used to. His behaviour has amended over the years.”

Of the DBO, Mr Dexter felt it was better suited to “low level offending” or a persistent offender, something he argued Foster was not.

But he added: “There’s a sort of benefit of having an order run side-by-side with the community order.”

The bench heard Foster also received a lifetime ban from Reading’s Pubwatch – the licensed trade’s equivalent of Neighbourhood Watch – banning him from entering any pub, off-licence or supermarket in the town centre.

Dad-of-two Foster was given a four-month jail sentence suspended for two years. He must also attend an alcohol programme, complete 150 hours’ of unpaid work and be subject to a two-year supervision order.

Magistrates also ordered Foster to pay £100 in compensation and £85 costs.

Insp Keith Stacey said after the hearing: “I think it’s important the criminal justice system send a message that drink and violent behaviour in the town centre won’t be tolerated.”

Chairman of Pubwatch Bill Donne added: “Pubwatch supported the application for a drink banning order in respect of this matter.

“Staff members working in licensed premises deserve the protection of the courts.

“Whilst we are grateful the injuries in this situation were less severe, a member of bar staff could have been blinded for life.”